Image to 3D Print file?
Hi Guys,
Just wondering if there's an efficient way to convert an image to a file ready for 3D printing? I've tried a couple of online converters, but the results weren't the best to be honest, the best being https://imagetostl.com/
I've attached some pics of the item I'm trying to recreate (I have high quality scans of these). It's an 80's badge, with the front design (the black outline of the character) raised up slightly from the rest of the plastic. Cool effect, but not sure it comes across in the pics.
Anyway, maybe I'm going about this completely the wrong way, so it'd be great to get some advise as to how to go about attempting to recreate these retro badges!
Thanks in advance.
RE: Image to 3D Print file?
If it's a clean high-contrast line art image, Freecad will allow you to do a path-to-shape and then shape-to-solid, which can be edited and exported.
It's a bit tricky, and to be honest, I could not tell you the steps without going back and re-RTFM-ing.
RE:
Inkscape can vectorize images:
https://inkscape.org/doc/tutorials/tracing/tutorial-tracing.html
Then you can take the vector format .SVG file and extrude it in Openscad for example and add that to a base with the badge support.
None of this is particularly easy, and it takes some skill and time, but you can get results. I made some ear savers for a Pharmacist who had to wear a mask for a long shift. I added the Rx logo from an image I found.
If you do a color change on the raised part, it looks even better:
Regards,
Mark
RE: Image to 3D Print file?
I use Adobe Illustrator.
However if your looking for lithophane their are a number of web based converters.
Regards
Swiss_Cheese
The Filament Whisperer
RE: Image to 3D Print file?
Thanks for the info, jsw - I'll check out Freecad later. Cheers!
If it's a clean high-contrast line art image, Freecad will allow you to do a path-to-shape and then shape-to-solid, which can be edited and exported.
It's a bit tricky, and to be honest, I could not tell you the steps without going back and re-RTFM-ing.
RE: Image to 3D Print file?
Brilliant! That's great info, Mark - thanks very much. Love the ear savers too - very cool!
Inkscape can vectorize images:
https://inkscape.org/doc/tutorials/tracing/tutorial-tracing.html
Then you can take the vector format .SVG file and extrude it in Openscad for example and add that to a base with the badge support.
None of this is particularly easy, and it takes some skill and time, but you can get results. I made some ear savers for a Pharmacist who had to wear a mask for a long shift. I added the Rx logo from an image I found.
If you do a color change on the raised part, it looks even better:
Regards,
Mark
RE: Image to 3D Print file?
Never thought of using Illustrator - I have an old copy I can install and give it a whirl later. Thanks, Swiss!
I use Adobe Illustrator.
However if your looking for lithophane their are a number of web based converters.
Regards
Swiss_Cheese
@lespaul
This is an example of line art exported from AI, and then in this case, extruded in Blender. it could have been any CADD program, I was using Blender when I needed this one. The result was then exported as an .STL in this case, then taken into Slicer for printing.
You can either use the file for Embossing or Debossing. At the time I made this Embossing or Debossing was best done in your 3d program of choice and then exported for printing, (Slic3r days) it is now reasonable to do your Embossing and Debossing right in slicer, by either adding your Parts as "Parts" or Negative Objects.
Imported .stl Sliced in PrusaSlicer.
Un-Sliced view
Sliced with single perimeter, no infill, top or bottom layers.
Example of the .STL being used as a Negative Volume.
I set the view to Volumetric flow for better contrast for this image.
Just a very simple example of what you can do.
Enjoy
Swiss_Cheese
The Filament Whisperer
RE: Image to 3D Print file?
Thanks, Swiss - I think Blender is the way to go. I never used it before, but it seems pretty powerful in its features. I'll import my image into it and see what I can do. Thanks again!
@lespaul
This is an example of line art exported from AI, and then in this case, extruded in Blender. it could have been any CADD program, I was using Blender when I needed this one. The result was then exported as an .STL in this case, then taken into Slicer for printing.
You can either use the file for Embossing or Debossing. At the time I made this Embossing or Debossing was best done in your 3d program of choice and then exported for printing, (Slic3r days) it is now reasonable to do your Embossing and Debossing right in slicer, by either adding your Parts as "Parts" or Negative Objects.
Imported .stl Sliced in PrusaSlicer.
Un-Sliced view
Sliced with single perimeter, no infill, top or bottom layers.
Example of the .STL being used as a Negative Volume.
I set the view to Volumetric flow for better contrast for this image.
Just a very simple example of what you can do.
Enjoy
Swiss_Cheese
RE: Image to 3D Print file?
I am new to 3D but my career was spent in ADOBE products (I owned a printshop). Here is what I do. Save a logo designed in Illustrator as a .svg file, then OPEN it in prusaslicer. Then you can extrude it, resize it, negative volume it, copy and paste it into another prusa project. I have been designing many files right in prusaslicer using this method. Make sure the file is 100% black on the image.
